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The Patriots entered training camp this summer with a very crowded receiver room. With two preseason games now in the books, some things are starting to shake out.
Perhaps the most surprising development in that department can be found in the rise of undrafted rookie Efton Chism.
The receiver signed with the Patriots in May to little fanfare after a five-year collegiate career at Eastern Washington. The 23-year-old consistently impressed coaches and media on the practice field, and when given the opportunity to play in preseason games, he’s been even better.
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Chism played the first half of Saturday’s Patriots-Vikings preseason games, catching six passes on six targets for 71 yards and a touchdown.
That performance came after Chism caught six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in his preseason debut the previous week against the Commanders.
All told, Chism has caught 12 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. And while Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte appear to have roster spots locked in, it’s become quite difficult to imagine how the Patriots could cut Chism at the end of this summer.
At the very least, head coach Mike Vrabel won’t be holding Chism’s lack of draft status against him when making such a decision.
“Doesn’t matter how you get here,” Vrabel told reporters after the preseason win in Minnesota. “Only thing that matters is what you do when you’re here.”
While it’s certainly premature for anybody to suggest the Patriots might have gotten Cooper Kupp 2.0 out of Eastern Washington, Chism has nevertheless looked like a solid find at a position of need for the Patriots.
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